The Vancouver Canucks limped here with a team held together by gum, duct tape and Darren Archibald.

They left with a win, their best road trip in history and a thriving Ryan Kesler.

Not bad at all.

With an injury list that included Alex Burrows, Jordan Schroeder, Jannik Hansen and David Booth, and with Eddie Lack starting, the Canucks beat the Blues in 3-2 overtime when Kesler scored his second goal.

It was an improbable win, ending an improbably successful trip during which the Canucks posted a 5-1-1 record, an all-time best.

“It shows we’re a team that’s resilient, that battles hard and battles back,” Kesler said. “And we’re a team that doesn’t score the first goal often.”

A joking Kesler is a happy Kesler and nothing makes him happier than scoring.

His first was one of the more impressive goals he’s had this calendar year. With a quick release and no hesitation, he snapped a wrist shot into the top corner midway through the second, reminding people he is a former 40-goal scorer.

It put the Canucks up 2-0, but that wasn’t a lead they were able to hold.

Consecutive penalties late in the second by Zack Kassian and Kevin Bieksa gave the St. Louis Blues a 5-on-3 for 1:28. It was everything they needed to get back into the game with two power play goals.

“Kas, that shouldn’t have been a penalty. It was a body check,” Tortorella said. “I think they hear a loud noise and they think it’s boarding. It’s just so wrong. So wrong.

“The hitting in the game that they’re taking out is ridiculous.”

The Blues got goals from Alex Steen and Vladamir Sobotka to tie the game at two, and that’s where it ended up in overtime.

With 34 seconds left in the extra frame, the Canucks got the break they needed when Patrick Berglund dragged down Daniel Sedin and was called for hooking.

Kesler backhanded in a rebound and the Canucks got their 11th point in seven road games.

The seventh, and final one, was supposed to be the hardest. It was against the big, deep Blues with David Backes, who is not averse to running opponents hard, and through the boards, even if they’re not looking.